Convertible dishwashing dinner table



March 27,. 1934. A. J. D. SCHAPP ET AL 1,952,558

CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING DINNER TABLE Original Filed Aug. 14, 1928 INVENTOR. 4054 BERTJ. 0.3014 PP By JOHN H. GARTNE? 983 A TTOR NE Y5.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING DINNER TABLE Adelbert J. D. Schapp, San Francisco, and John H. Gartner, San Anselmo, Calif.

Application August 14, 1928, Serial No. 299,559 Renewed August 23, 1933 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a convertible dishwashing dinner table, and its principal object is to provide a means for simplifying the operation of serving food at the table,

for clearing the table after the meal is finished, for washing the dishes and for drying the same.

It is particularly proposed in this invention to combine a complete set of utensils, such as dishes, knives and. forks, to be used by one individual into one unit which allows the complete set to be carried back and forth for the purpose of serving and to be cleaned and dried as a unit. This unit is preferably formed in the shape of a tray, which has the dishes permanently molded therein, or

fixed thereto, and which has the knives, forks and other utensils, which necessarily have to be moved about while the meal is eaten, removably attached thereto.

It is further proposed to combine these units with a table plate in such a manner that the entire units may be cleaned while in position on the table plate by means of a spray, or otherwise, so that for the purpose of cleaning the dishes, it is not necessary to remove the same from the table plate.

It is further proposed to provide means for reversibly supporting these units, or trays, in the table plate so thatafter the meal is finished, the trays may be reversed so that after the reversal of the units, a clear table plate is presented which may be immediately used for other purposes, as for spreading reading matter thereon, or playing a game of cards, or whatever may be desired.

It is further proposed to arrange means in connection with this table plate and the reversible trays for allowing the latter to be cleaned from below the table plate by means of a spray directed thereagainst, or by other suitable means.

It is further proposed to provide in combination with the table plate and the reversible units or trays, a receptacle below the table plate, which receptacle is preferably connected with a sewer and which receptacle may substantially correspond to and perform the functions of the present sink, it being understood that the cleaning means, such as a spray, operates against the dishes from within the receptacle, or sink.

It is further proposed to provide this sink with ventilation means and with heating means for drying the dishes after they have been cleaned.

It is further proposed to provide suitable means in connection with this entire arrangement for taking care of such waste as remains on the dishes after the meal, as for instance, bones, salad leaves, etc.'which ordinarily cannot be discharged ible dishwashing dinner table;

Figure 2, a longitudinal section taken along line 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3, a transverse section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4, a perspective view of a tray adapted for use in connection with our invention; and

Figure 5, a sectional fragmentary view of a modified form of tray.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, we wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications in our invention may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its preferred form, our invention comprises a table 1 which is preferably made to rest on two legs 2, disposed along the center line of the 50 table and at the ends thereof. This table is formed to provide in the top thereof a receptacle 3 somewhat comparable to the sink used at the present time. The bottom of this receptacle preferably tapers from one end downwardly to 35 the other as shown at 4 and connects at its lower end with a sewer pipe 6, which latter is preferably hidden within one of the legs 2 made hollow for this purpose. A water pipe 7 leads into this receptacle, preferably so as to be hidden in the other leg, the water. pipe being controlled by means of a valve 8 accessible from the outside of the table and terminating in a coil 9 within the sink, which latter is surrounded by suitable heating elements 11 and has its extreme end 12 ar- 9 ranged above the heating element and perforated in such a manner that when water is forced through the perforations, it will be directed at the table top containing the trays to be described hereinafter.

The table top is formed with a plurality of apertures 13, the number of apertures corresponding preferably to that of the number of persons to be served on the table. The margin of each aperture has a depending flange 14 terminating in an innerledge 16 on which the trays may be supported, preferably, in such a manner that the upper face of the trays is level with the table top.

One form of tray is shown at 1'? in Figure 4,

prising a plate having a number of cavities 18 provided in one surface thereof, these cavities serving as dishes in which various kinds of food may be accommodated.

The top of each tray is also provided with suitable spring clamps 19 by means of which the knives and forks shown at 21 and a drinking cup shown at 20 may be removably attached to the plate. It should be understood, of course, that any suitable means may be selected for removably attaching the knives and forks-to the plate or tray.

These trays are formed so as to seat on the ledges 16 and so as to be reversible in the apertures 13, so that the tray may be made to face upward. or downward, as may be desired. When the trays are in position either facing upward or facing downward, they form a closure for the sink structure. Suitable ventilation for the latter may be provided through the hollow legs of the table, and, if desired, a fan 22 may be provided at one end of a hollow leg for increasing the circulation.

The waste remaining on the dishes after the meal is finished may be disposed of in different ways, one of which is illustrated in Figure 2. According to this illustration, the sewer pipe 6 connects through a suitable trap 23 with a receptacle 24, which on its part connects with the sewer through a pipe 26. Within this receptacle 24, there is supported a removable strainer 27 which catches the waste material, such as bones and the like, while allowing the liquid to pass through the same into the sewer. The strainer 27 may be emptied from time to time into the garbage can.

A modified form of tray is shown in Figure 5 in which it is illustrated as comprising two telescoping sections 28 and 29, the lower section 28 forming a receptacle into which fits the upper section 29, which latter is formed with the cavities 18 used for dishes, and carries the knives and forks 21 which are here shown as being held in place by means of a magnet 31 arranged underneath the surface of the sections 29. The two sections are made to interlock, if desired, by any suitable locking means, such as a pin 32 extending through the top of the upper section and formed with an arm 33 adapted to catch in a recess 34 in the wallof the lower section when the pin 32 is turned by means of a handle 36 accommodated preferably in a recess 37 in the upper section.

The manner of using our invention is as follows: For serving, the tray 17 may be removed from the table and carried to the kitchen where it may be filled with food. If desired, the food, of course, may be carried to the table and dispensed from the platters in the manner now customary. It is apparent that if dispensing platters are to be used, one of the trays may be formed with somewhat larger recesses so as to serve asa dispensing platter. If the tray illustrated in Figure 4 is used, the removal of the tray for the purpose of filling the same would leave an opening in the table plate in front of the diner which might be undesirable. It may be preferred, therefore, to use the tray illustrated in Figure 5 in which the upper sec tion may be released from the lower section by turning the pin 32 by means of the handle 36 so that upon removal of the upper section, the lower section still forms a closure for the opening.

After the meal is finished, each person places 1,962,568 this probably being the simplest form, and comtheknives and forks in their respective places and then turns his tray upside down. If the tray illustrated in Figure 5 is used, the two sections should be interlocked by means of the pin 32. This'is the only operation necessary to clear the table, and the persons having partaken of the meal immediately have a clear table top in front of them.

Next, the heating units are rendered active by means of a suitable switch, and the water is turned on by opening the valve 8. Upon the reversal of the trays, solid waste material such as bones, etc. has fallen to the botton of the sink already. The turning on of the water and the heater causes a hot spray of water to be directed against the trays, which now face downwardly, whereby the dishes and the knives and forks are thoroughly cleaned. v

The water used for this purpose discharges through the sewer pipe 6 and carries with it the solid waste substance that may have dropped on the bottom of the sink. The water and the solid waste material pass through the receptacle 24 where the solid material is caught by the strainer 27 while the fluid passes on through the pipe 26 into the sewer. The trap 23 prevents the rising of obnoxious odor in a manner well-known at the present time. After the cleaning operation has continued for a certain length of time, the operator turns oh the faucet 8 which still leaves a certain amount of water in the coil 9.

The heater may be left turned on for a certain length of time which causes the water remaining in the coil 9 to turn into steam and to steam clean the trays. After all the water remaining in the coil has evaporated, the continued heating in connection with the draft which may be created by the fan 22 causes the interior of the sink and the turned-down faces of the trays to be thoroughly dried so that at the end of the operation, the dishes and eating utensils are cleaned as thoroughly and in as sanitary a manner as they possibly can be cleaned without any work on the part of the operator except for the necessary opening of the faucetand the heat regulation.

It should be understood that the device is capable of many changes and variations and that it is the object of the present application to seek protection on the principles thereof rather than on the details of construction. It should be particularly kept in mind that variations may be used according to results desired by substitution of equivalents. It may, for instance, be feasible to merely connect the pipe 7 with a water heater and dispense with the heating elements within the sink. It may be possible to dispense with the strainer 27 and to carry off all solid waste material into the sewer. It may also be possible to arrange the strainer within the sink if such method should be preferred. It may, of course, be desired to remove the solid waste material, such as bones and the like, from the table top before the trays are reversed, in which case, no provision would have to be made for the disposal of the same during the washing operation.

,It has already been mentioned that one of the trays may be shaped differently from the others to render the same useful as a service tray.

The drawing illustrates a table with a seating capacity of four persons, or if one of the trays is used as a service tray, it might accommodate only three persons. The number and arrangement of trays may, of course, vary in accordance with the desires of the user of the table, and the shape of the table might in a similar manner be changed to suit the taste of the person using the same.

We claim: I 1. In combination, a sink, a tray supported thereby to form a closure for the same and facing inwardly, means operative from the inside of the sink for cleaning the tray and electrical heating means within the sink for drying the tray.

2. In combination, a sink, a tray supported thereby to form a closure for the same and facing inwardly, means operative from the inside of the sink for cleaning the tray, means for heating. the space within the sink and means for ventilating said space.

3. In combination, a sink, a tray supported thereby to form a closure for the same and facing inwardly, means operative from the inside of the sink for cleaning the tray and a separate receptacle connected to the sink outlet and having a removable strainer for catching solid substances.

4. In a device of the character described, a sink, a table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith, means for supporting dishes in said enclosure and means for cleaning the dishes while thus enclosed having steam generating means associated therewith.

5. In a device of the character described, a sink, a table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith, means for ,supporting dishes in said enclosure, means dishes while thus enclosed and means for directing an air blast through said enclosure for drying the dishes.

6. In a device of the character described, a sink. a table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith, means for supporting dishes in said enclosure, a. spray for directing a cleansing fluid against the dishes, pressure means for urging the fluid through'the spray and heating means associated with the spray for turning the fluid into steam when the pressure means has been shut off.

7. In a device of the character described, a sink, a table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith, means for supporting dishes in said enclosure, means for cleaning the dishes while thus enclosed, and an independent source of heat in the enclosure for drying the dishes.

8. In combination, a receptacle, a tray reversibly supported relative thereto to face either inwardly or outwardly and means operative from the inside of the receptacle for cleaning the tray, the tray having a flat back and means for removably fastening eating utensils to the front face thereof.

9. In combination, a receptacle, a tray reversibly supported relative thereto to face either inwardly or outwardly and means operative from for cleaning the.

the inside of the receptacle for cleaning the tray, the latter having means for removably fastening eating utensils to one face thereof.

10. A portable tray havin dishes fashioned therein and eating utensils removably fastened thereto so as to be adapted for cleaning as a unit.

11. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having draining means associated therewith, a fiat table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith and having an opening therein, a cover for the opening made to be flush in-its entire surface with the remainder of the table top and dishwashing means within the enclosure.

12. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having draining means associated therewith, a table top having allthe points of its surface lying in a single plane supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith and having an opening therein, a cover for the opening having its entire surface lying in the same plane and dishwashing means within the enclosure.

13. In combination, a receptacle, a table top for covering the same having an opening therein and a ledge insaid opening, a tray removably and reversibly supported on said ledge and means for washing the tray from the inside of the receptacle.

14. In combination, a table plate having an opening therein and a. ledge in said opening, a tray reversibly and removably supported on the ledge and means operative from below the table plate for cleaning the tray.

15. In combination, a receptacle having an opening therein and a ledge in said opening, a tray removably supported on the ledge to face inwardly and means operative from within the receptacle for cleaning the tray.

16. In combination, a sink, a table top supported thereon and forming an enclosure therewith, a plurality of trays reversibly supported in the table top, means within the enclosure for washing all the trays simultaneously and a single control for the latter means.

. 17. A-portable tray of the character described having dishes fashioned therein and having magnetic means for holding'eating utensils thereto.

18. A hollow portable tray of the character described having a magnet on the inside thereof for holding eating utensils to the outer surface of the tray. 19. A tray of the character described comprising two sections, one adapted to telescope into the other, and means for interlocking the two sections.

ADELBERT J. D. SCHAPP. JOHN H. GARTNER. 

